Saturday 28th of November 2015 09:58:33 AM

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Harrisonburg Virginia is a nice college town with three local breweries. Pale Fire is located in a shopping center called the Ice House, a large old building which has been repurposed to house a restaurant, several businesses, and this brewery. There is a brick paved roundabout in front for dropping off passengers, but parking is across the street in the municipal lot. In front is a spacious elevated concrete patio area with black metal tables and chairs. Just inside they have a large multi-sided horse-shoe-shaped bar with a tower of 10 tap handles in the center. The bar is topped with pale wood and is surrounded by 25 metal chairs. Overhead are caged incandescent bulbs and a wood plank ceiling under a metal roof. The place has a concrete floor and grey cinderblock walls with many windows. In front are retractable windowed garage doors that open to the front patio. Along the back wall of the tasting room are large windows that look onto the brewery floor. On the left are large stainless steel brewing vessels and along the far back wall are 5 midsize stainless steel fermenters. There seems to be plenty of room for expansion. The tasting room has several high top tables and a lounge area with couches and a fireplace. Along the side wall is a large bookcase with many books. On the right is a vinyl record collection and player. Otherwise they play classic oldies radio music. The place had a relaxed, subdued ambience when I visited on a weekend. I assume it gets livelier on the weekend, because the space has a very nice, comfortable and social atmosphere. The staff is welcoming and proficient. They do not have a kitchen, but the bar sells some potato chips. They have 9 beers on tap, which are available by glass, sampler flight, or growler. The beers tend to be flavorful American styles and are drinkable and engaging. My favorites were their heavy Saison and DIPA. The brewery has a nice feel to it.